The Portland daily press., 1887-02-04

| LeLacheur OF POIlianu' MIS-: samuel Bun
ker Of Anson, Major E. Rowell of Hallowell,
| Mrs G RI Palmer of Augusta, Mrs Eta L.
| OSgood of Portland, Miss Clara Farwell of
RnekIand. Mrs. L. w. Weston of Skowhe-
gan. Mrs. Blaisdell Of Bath, Mrs. G. a.
Quinby of Augusta, and b9 before the hearing
land. arrived, with Mrs, Mary A. Liyermore.
Mrs. Stevens opened the argument for the
measure. giving a history Of the movement
for raising the age OF consent, and present
ing clearly a number OF the many good argu-
ments for such legislation. Mrs Steven
| honed the ace might be raised to Is years but
| she thought that 16 might do If they co uld
4 get it no higher. She presented the follow
ing letter from Judge Nathan Webb;
ifrs. L, M N. Stetens;
to the welfare and safety Of girls, observe with
great satisfaction and pleasure The subject does
not now for the first time attract my attention, but
| has for wears been discussed by me. The age OF
i consent AS fixed by the laws Of the State at ten
| years, shocked my sense OF right the first time
| became informed OF It, and nave always believed
il should have a materially different and higher
The proper period to establish is not altogether
| SO easy to determine, and think should be very
carefully considered. The subject is a delicate
one for oDen discussion. Yet its Importance Will
| with right minded persons justify plain speaking
i and overcome limit scruples of delicacy.
In the first place 1t must be remembered that
age alone does not equallze the maturing of young
persons OF either SEX s.er on tner physical Or
ing childhood vary almost infinitely and in proper
tonal degree affect the relations OF children TO the
s!s-ssti0n under consideration. knowledge of sex
/ ual matters is too often acquired in the grossest
| form without any Of the protection to and purity
| that ought to attend and elevate that knowledge.
And this is true of both sexes. It will not be
| wise, while shielding girls, to forget temptation,
| the inexperienee, and the danger of boys. Purity
| ~ one sex cannot be secured without regard to
the morals OF the other. But still an arbitrary
and absolute rule is necessary, when from the
nature OF the case, we cannot have one which IS
i n faf ~ And
| my mind has been unsettled as to tho precise
point at which the age of consent should be arbi-
under foareen nor oyer sSteen U m n Serbaps eee
| would be as safe period as any. Ii should not
| be placed as high as a reasonably manageable
/ age. Then too, as criminal intercourse with fe-
| males under the age fixed will subject offenders
| to the extreme penalty for rape--a crime until
within few years punishable by imprisonment
| for ife-and in my Judgment should still be so
| punished-seme modification Of penalty should be
made Tor cases of guilty conduct by boys
prepared to suggest what age HaY-
| ing made rule that consent Is impossible up
70 certain time and made every man that has
criminal knowledge of a female under the age
| guilty of rayishing, would give girls Of tender
years, but above that age, further protection by
| making the crimes of adultery and fornieation
committed with females between the age of con-
| sent and say eighteen years OF age, punishable
with penalties more severe that the same offence
with other persons. merely suggest Is years.
This increased penalty should attach only to
males and should be fixed and absolute In this
1 Wdy young girls, IlOugn CONSIDERED c2paDle oil
giving consent, will still be surrounded with some
ness.
have suggested this last matter to Colonel
| Spauding, who came In on business as l was
writing, who authorized to say for him that the
plan of increased penalty for time after the age
| OF consent is wholly new to him, but strikes HIM
| most faVorably. But he would carry ther limta-
| ton TO twenty-one years. Against this age |
think no sound objection can be urged, as persons
| who consciously and wilfully offend against the
laws have no claim 70 the relaxation Of the law.
nave written wi with constant interruption and
very clearly, nor always finished my sentences so
| as to suit their commencement.
Will only add that ! have already expressed
the House, and you are at liberty ii you wish 10
Very Respectfully Yours,
Mrs. Bashford followed Mrs. Stevens
| with an admirable speech to the committee
| Then after her the speakers were Mrs. Her
| som after her Mrs Chapman, Rev. Mr..
| White, Mrs. j. M. Williams, Rev. M. Jor-
dan, Rev. Mr.. LeLacheur Mrs. Samuel
| Bunker, Hon. u. Rowell Mrs @. r. Palmer,
| and Mrs. Eta E. Osgood.
Shortly after 4 O'clock Mrs. Livermore
| came, and made very able argument. She
| said that in Massachusetts they had a law
| raising the age from ten to eighteen years
| Many men thought then that with the age
| fixed at eighteen there would be great deal
| Of blackmailing. But good man was in lit
| tie danger of blackmail. "And ladies', said
| Mrs. LivermOre, "our laws do not give a girl
the legal right to sell her dresses or her jew
| elry until she is Is or p years old. My
| granddaughter has very expensive doll
/ house, which cost a hundred dollars. 1t was
| given her by wealthy friend. She may not
| sell that useless playthiDg by the laws of
| Massachusetts until she is p years old. Yet
| in Massachusetts until recently, and in
Maine now, those same laws allow
a girl OF ten years to sell her honor.
| ter, woman herself, lower than property
lower than that fimsy doll house which a
| foolish friend gave to my grand. daughter?"
Mrs. Livermsre thought that the age should
be put at IS years, because at 16 and IL girls
| without character formed or Judgment
matured were much more susceptible to
| temptation than few years later.
Rev. Henry Blanchard followed Mrs
| Liyermore. He denounced the present law
! as an outrage to our civilization, and thought
it should be changed at once. He was not
| quite prepared to insist on is years. He
| thought that 16 might be enough, but it
| ought to be as high as that.
| The committee have not yet decided what
| to report. A very level headed member of
| it said tonight he thought they would settle
| on 10 years. Another thought the same,
/ although he felt the force of Mrs. Liver
more's argument.
The Bar Haroor Fight.
The Bar Harbor fight continued today, the
Rodicks beginning their case. The interest
in the hearing took no such active part as in
| yesterdays. Geo. c. Yeaton is fighting the
case for all it is worth, and so is his oppo-
nent, whom he scrupulously refers to, not with
the customary ''my learned brother" but as
''the learned Attorney General of Maine. "
But thereis rumor that in the end the case
is going against Yeaton and the Rodicks. A
| man who keeps posted said this evening
| The judiciary is going to stand six to four
in favor of the new company and against the
| R0dieks. If there are two reports. and it
| gets into the House the old company won't
stand ghost Of show, for the House is
| against monopolies." In the Senate, it is
said, that all but twelve are against the
Rodicks. The hearing win continue tomor-
row. The judiciary hope to finish it tomor-
row evening.
a Cumberland County Matter. Ia
Last evening the Cumberland county dele
cation put its foot down hard on a PROPOSE
tion which has been made to the Legislature
to divide the Cumberland County Agricul-
| tural Society, giving half of its stipend OF
| 800 to the West Cumberland Society But
sixteen men petitioned for this, and the dele
CATION voted them leave to withdraw their
| petition.
a Protest.
Auburn shoe manufacturers protest against
any legislation to refuse any special stamp
in goods in which leather brand is used.
Woman Suffrage.
Mrs. Mary A. Livermore lectured on won.
an suffrage in the State House tonight.
The Insurance Law.
Some important changes in the insurance
law are to be recommended by the COMMITTEES
ON insurance. A bill has been drafted t.
change the clause relating to penalties, 50
that they may be recovered by indictment al
well as by action of debt, and so that the
county attorney may proceed against offend
ers on information, as well as on direction o.
the Insurance Commissioner.
Another bill provides for special brokers
who may put risks in companies, il no
licensed, tosdo business in Maine, within
capital stock of at least 100000 Thesl
risks, however, may not be placed unit
licensed companies have taken all the risk
they will, The bill provides in detail fol
the records of the business of these speca
brokers.
An increase of Labor.
The State prison committee have voted tt
recommend an increase of the warden's sala
ry from $500 to S2400 year. They hav
done nothing about the convict labor ques
| a ful 4 all